Quick Saturday Hits
*If the word around the real-estate world is correct, KRON wants roughly $25 million for its building at 1001 Van Ness--that's a lot of turkey sandwiches and beer at Tommy's Joynt.
*Bruno Cohen at PIX: Since taking over the veteran GM has been pretty much complacent. The status quo at Channel 5; which wasn't great, prompting his hire, has been further muddied, again, by a plethora of in-house angst over way too many managers and a few reporters. Furthermore, the open favoritism by Dan Rosenheim, the News Director, continues to polarize the newsroom.
Not to beat a dead donkey, but the Paul Deanno hire, which resulted in Roberta Gonzales going to weekends, has been a disaster. Gonzales has a huge following; not just men, but a lot of 40-something women too.
Deanno has no such following; has no personality, and all the warmth of a tofu salad in Marin.
*Larry King is looking for a large apartment in the Marina in case anyone wants to know. Not that he's ditching the Beverly Hills house, just that when he comes to the city, he likes to stay a few days.
*Real startling: The amount of new faces at KTVU, especially reporters. For one thing, even in its hey day, Channel 2 and Cox never were known for paying decent wages for reporters--in fact, some reporters at KRON make more money.
*Must-read: Ken Korach's new book out on Bill King. Holy Toledo!
*Follow me on Twitter
I was not aware Larry King was still alive.
ReplyDeleteHis wife was shocked too.
DeleteIf KRON wants $25 million for the Van Ness Building does that mean that their broadcast operations are relocating elsewhere (where/when)? Or does that mean that the broadcast license is for sale separately (how much)? Or do you get the whole shebang for $25 million (building with broadcast license)?
ReplyDeletebuilding and land only.
DeleteThe only new face I've seen at two is Katie Utis, and her face is a welcomed sight in my book. She's young, but so far she's been a solid reporter. Brian Flores has already been there about a year or so, so kinda new face? He's solid too.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to Lorrean Blanco?
DeleteYour opinions about the kpix weather talent are just that, opinions. I'd prefer that roberta find another market, that's a fact.
ReplyDeleteI'm a woman, a bit past my 40's, but I have adored Roberta for some time. So THERE.
DeleteYeah but you also think 60 minutes still offers real, hard hitting journalism. The best of both was 20-30 years ago.
DeleteRich -- I am an avid reader of your blog, but I was disappointed to be blocked re: my comments on Roberta Gonzales.
DeleteI've said far worse about Tori Campbell and it was always published.
I was so happy to see Heather Holmes last night fill in for Haner. She looks so yummy!
ReplyDeleteWho's going to be Channel 2's new managing editor? Will the person be of Asian descent? Will the person be seasoned and experienced? Or will the person be straight out of college and come to work on a skateboard? Dig, Rich. Dig, my friend.
ReplyDeleteThe news director is 32 right? So a skateboarding managing editor sounds about right.
DeleteIf Johnny Carson were still alive and doing his "Carnac" sketch, the gag might go like this:
ReplyDeleteAnswer: "Bang Ting Ow"
Question: Name of the sounds from the first crash on the NEW Bay Bridge!
Okay, I know...if you're under 40, you probably don't get it. See "skateboard" refrences above!
Don't discount Bruno Cohen, the guy has been in news for a long time and has real newsroom experience. This isn't his first rodeo and I think he has been at KPIX for not even a year.
ReplyDeleteFor all the bashing and praise that goes on here does anyone have the actual Nielsen ratings. That's what matters. You can hate on an anchor or reporter all you want but it doesn't mean shit if the ratings are good.
"...Nielsen ratings. That's what matters."
DeleteThats all that matters to GM's and sales managers. I don't know how the ratings are created but if it's based on head counts alone, the ratings could easily be considered useless from a viewers standpoint.
Head counts don't imply quality to me. Example: The best selling vehicle is a ford truck, so that means I should pass on visiting the Mercedes show room?
Yelp is useless and gets a lot wrong but the one thing they got right is that they show opinions, not check box totals of how yelp wants to frame/measure quality and value. Yelpers...don't get me started.
Cohen may serve his master well, but the ratings may be an indictment of the viewers choices and/or intelligence.
California Pacific Medical Center will be building a brand-new Cathedral Hill Hospital. The CPMC, will tear down the old Jack Tar (Cathedral Hill) hotel and put up a $1.7 billion, 555-bed acute and women and children's care hospital, designed by architecture firm SmithGroup. I am sure the new owners of KRON Media General will get $25 million possibly even more for the building. That corner of Van Ness and O'Farrell is valuable property and would be ideal for a medial-office complex of sort.
ReplyDeleteMore info on the Ken Korach book please!
ReplyDeleteGreat book on the very BEST radio PBP broadcaster in Bay Area history. Korach hits it out of the park.
DeleteBill King is the greatest BASKETBALL PBP announcer in Bay Area history. Russ Hodges was better at baseball and Lon Simmons was better at football.
DeleteBill King was the best and Ken Korach's wonderful tribute to his good friend and broadcast partner is a must read for Bill King fans. I was lucky to have known Bill well for over 36 years, and he couldn't have been more encouraging and enthusiastic about pushing me to make it in the broadcast profession.
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite memories of Bill involves sitting with him at dinner on the road during a Raiders' road trip to Green Bay in the fall of 1978, and listening to him tell stories about growing up as a young broadcaster doing Minor League Baseball on the radio in the Midwest back in the early 1950s.
There will never be another Bill King and we were lucky to have had him on the airwaves for well over four decades here in the bay area.
Actually, Nielsen ratings don't count for squat at PIX. Bruno's job is to get the bloated KPIX budget down. Paul probably makes half what Roberta did. Roberta's salary also got slashed when she was moved to weekends. Bingo, at least a quarter million saved between the two. Why else do you think Rosenheim bff Hackney is only freelance now. Boom...another quarter million.
ReplyDeleteDeanno reminds me of the Honda "Opportunity Knocking" guy of a few years ago. Happy go lucky, non threatening Wonderbread, milquetoast guy soccer moms love, has as few frat male buddies he jogs with and is just there. Roberta was (is) a presence for better or worse.
ReplyDelete